>July Events / Art & Theatre / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Music / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk July 8, 2019
Full programme for Holt Festival 2019 revealed
New Artistic Director Anwen Hurt announces her first full Festival line up – opening with a street party and picnic!
The full programme for the eleventh Holt Festival, North Norfolk’s award winning, international feast of the arts has been announced.
From 21 to 27 July the Festival brings a vast range of outstanding events to North Norfolk. Music includes icons of the British music scene, award-winning contemporary jazz and the very best of Irish traditional music and classical music. Only in Holt do best-selling authors rub shoulders with national treasures and toe-tapping dancers. There’s funny and thought-provoking drama, one of the very best performance poets around and a great line-up of comedy. The Festival features two fabulous art loan exhibitions, not one but two art prizes, and new exciting art events around the town. An entire day is devoted to events and activities for children and young people while the fabulous opening-night circus cabaret for adults has thrills, spills and risqué fun.
The Festival features a host of big names including Sir Martyn Lewis, Kate Mosse, Toyah, Nigel Havers, Terry Waite and Georgie Fame. There are regional favourites like Luke Wright and Molly Naylor, and it all opens with a vibrant street party and picnic. New Artistic Director Anwen Hurt said ‘I had several aims when I took on this role – introducing Holt Festival to new and wider audiences, involving the local community to a greater degree, and most importantly, remembering our loyal audience who have supported us over the last eleven years’.
Family and Children’s events
There’s a new opening event for Holt Festival this year with a Sunday afternoon of fun and food that’s free for everyone to join in. From mid-day on 21 July the town streets will come alive with all sorts of live music and entertainment, food stalls and a Norfolk produce market. From 3pm everyone is invited to take a picnic to Gresham’s Pre-Prep Field where there’ll be acrobats, face painting, street dancing, close up magic and marvellously entertaining street performer Maynard Flip Flap and lots of family orientated fun and frolics.
As a taster for the Festival fun to come there’s a special Children’s Saturday on 20 July when under 16’s are invited to Gresham’s Pre-Prep field to improve their sporting, dancing, music, art and literary skills. Afterwards, families are invited to head over to Holt Community Centre for a joyous sing-along performance of the wonderful Mary Poppins Returns (U) film.
Children’s workshops give 6-12 year olds the chance to create a Circus in a Day with Lost in Translation and to try body percussion with Oscillate choreographer Avalon Rathgeb. There’s also a joyful participatory celebration of sounds, using traditional and unusual instruments, with Japanese musician and inventor ICHI and English folk artist Rachael Dadd. Throughout the week Amy Finegan’s popular storytelling will entrance the under sevens.
Music and Dance
Music has always been a mainstay of the festival and this year’s line-up doesn’t disappoint. The big headliners in the weekend Theatre in The Woods concerts are Toyah, with a 40th anniversary retrospective featuring favourite hit singles and album classics, and Rn’B jazz legend Georgie Fame. Georgie is a true music legend who has amassed an impressive array of hits and worked with the very best in the business. Opening for him will be MOBO Award winners and Mercury Music Prize nominees Kairos4 Tet.
The Lewis Sisters are a trio who include Sir Martyn’s daughter Sylvie. They run the musical gamut from Hank Williams and Elvis to Bob Dylan and Harry Belafonte, as well as playing their own beautifully crafted originals.
Ireland’s Elsafty, O’Connor & Browne will provide a joyous evening’s entertainment of scintillating songs, heart-breaking laments and toe-tapping dance tunes as button accordion and Uilleann pipes combine with the delightful voice of Róisín Elsafty. They also host a lunchtime Ceilidh. The Britten Oboe Quartet, made up of virtuosos from the world famous Britten Sinfonia will perform a mix of standard classics and lesser-known works including Norfolk-educated composer EJ Moeran’s Fantasy Quartet. Cantabile – The London Quartet is one of Britain’s great vocal groups. For Holt they are promising wide-ranging programme including songs from William Byrd, Rossini, The Beatles, Billy Joel, Rodgers & Hart and Flanders & Swann as well as their own hilarious Strangers in the Night.
Oscillate is a ground breaking tap dance experience not to be missed. The especially composed electronic score combines with innovative choreography to totally update the tap experience.
Finally, fans of 60s music can dance a Saturday afternoon away to the upbeat northern soul sounds of Cromer Soul Club DJ’s as they keep the faith.
Talks
Nigel Havers has been gracing our screens and stages for more years than any of us care to remember. His portrayals of a certain kind of Englishman in films from Chariots of Fire, A Passage to India and Empire of the Sun, to TV roles in Downton Abbey, Don’t Wait Up and even Coronation Street, alongside his perfect comedic timing, have led him to be described as a national treasure. He is coming to Holt to discuss his life and career in conversation with Anwen Hurt.
Sir Martyn Lewis retired from news reading in 1999 after many years of reporting the news on TV. He comes to Holt to discuss ‘A Constructive Future for Journalism’, arguing that the news should balance negative and positive stories. He proposes that journalists should acknowledge accomplishments and successes in positive stories rather than rely on the light, trivial stories that tend to characterise good news features. Kate Mosse’s books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and published in more than forty countries. She will talk about her life and work, including Labyrinth and The Burning Chambers, the first in a new sequence of historical novels.
Founder of perhaps the UK’s best known book chain, Sir Tim Waterstone will talk about his book ‘The Face Pressed Against a Window: A Memoir which includes tales of his time teaching at Gresham’s School.
Now hailed as both an erudite writer and a compellingly humorous public speaker, Terry Waite spent almost five years in solitary confinement after attempting to secure the release of hostages in Beirut. He will talk about this and his latest book, Travels with a Primate, which tells of his worldwide travels accompanying Robert Runcie, then Archbishop of Canterbury.
And is it a Gainsborough? is a talk by Hugh Belsey, one of the foremost authorities on eighteenth century art who has spent 14 years cataloguing portraits by Suffolk’s Thomas Gainsborough for his new book.
Writer, broadcaster and Norfolk resident Richard Mabey has written over 30 books, mostly centering on the healing power of nature. He comes to the festival to talk about his life, his writings and how reconnecting with the wild helped him break free from debilitating depression.
Theatre and live literature
Two for one offers are always popular and Holt Festival has a stunning double bill of Norfolk-grown drama directed by TV scriptwriter, theatre maker and poet Molly Naylor. Lights! Planets! People! is an intimate and exhilarating play about space science, mental health and communication performed by Attleborough actor Karen Hill. In Sick, Norwich-based writer and performer Shey Hargreaves draws on her own experiences of working in a busy emergency unit to explore with warmth and humour, the way that austerity affects patients, NHS staff and their families and friends. Both shows have enjoyed acclaimed national tours and London runs.
Luke Wright is one of the UK’s leading poets, this year celebrating 20 years at the coalface of poetry. With his show Luke Wright, Poet Laureate he’s on a mission to write poems to unite a divided nation. The bill is completed with an opening set of poems from Molly Naylor.
Circus and Comedy
The Smallest Greatest Show on Earth is an evening of circus cabaret for adult audiences from internationally renowned, Norwich-based, Lost in Translation Circus. Colourful compère Abigail Collins introduces acts including Australia’s Annabel Carberry, Massimilliano Rosetti from Rome, London’s Joseph Keeley, Norwich’s Natasha Rushbrooke and the scandalous Vendetta Vain. Award-winning musical comedy sisters Flo & Joan are Radio 4 regulars who are bringing a brand-new show of dark, witty songs Alive on Stage to Holt. No Holt Festival would be complete without a stand-up comedy night and this year the pick of the London circuit gather for a night of laughter at The Feathers Hotel MC’d by laid back funnyman Jon Pearson.
Visual Art
Holt Festival has established an enviable reputation for bringing the very best of the fine art world to the town. There are two major loan exhibitions in the 2019 Festival, Two Lives in Colour features paintings by Fred Dubery and sculptures by Joanne Brogden who lived in Suffolk all their married lives up to their deaths in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Dame Lucie Rie and Hans Coper were potters with distinct styles, regarded as the preeminent British potters of the latter half of the twentieth century.
Additionally, Holt is renowned for its galleries, and many of them are taking part in the annual Art Trail which also includes an exhibition of children’s art in Holt Community Centre.
There will be exhibitions of the shortlisted entries to the Sir John Hurt Art Prize and the new Sworders Art Prize for younger artists. Also new this year is Paint Out Holt, a Plein air painting competition for which entrants will create new views of the town to be exhibited throughout Festival week. The final weekend of the Festival will also see a return for Open Studios with North Norfolk artists throwing open their studio doors to the public. ADD Car boot
Film
Anwen Hurt has selected a short season of films to complement the Festival Programme. That Good Night (12A, 2017) was Sir John Hurt’s final film. One of the finest actors of his generation, and a great supporter of Holt Festival, he gives a tour-de-force performance in this story of a once famous, terminally ill writer.
Derek Jarman’s magical film version of The Tempest (15, 1979) will be introduced by Jarman’s producer Don Boyd. Toyah Willcox, who stars in the film, will be making a guest appearance prior to her concert in Holt.
Internationally acclaimed Oscar-winning drama Chariots of Fire (PG, 1981) is based on the true story of runners Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams’ journey to the 1924 Paris Olympics. It features Nigel Havers as fellow athlete Lord Andrew Lindsay.
There is also a full programme of Fringe and Community events, see the website for full details.
Chair of the Board of Trustees Adney Payne said ‘I would particularly like to welcome our new Artistic Director, Anwen Hurt. Anwen has supplied an exciting, eclectic and stimulating mix of artistic events, and achieved a brilliant balancing act of developing new innovations while maintaining the style of events that Holt Festival has become renowned for.’
Anwen added ‘It hasn’t been easy juggling all the different strands but I’m very pleased with the results. I’m particularly proud of the Town Picnic and Street Party on Sunday 21st which gives absolutely everyone from the town and beyond the opportunity be part of the Festival fun. Do come and join us!’
Each year Holt Festival makes a substantial donation to the Holt Youth Project – one of England’s most imaginative, award winning youth schemes. Serving young people across north Norfolk, it prides itself on preventative programmes that allow young people to reach their full potential.
Box office number 01603 598699.
Facebook @holtfestival Twitter @holtfest
Holt Festival is generously supported by Gresham’s School.
Holt Festival 2019 Full listings:
Friday 19 – Saturday 26 July 11am-5pm FREE
PAINT OUT HOLT (art)
On Friday 19 July artists will be out on the streets of Holt painting scenes of the town. Works will then be exhibited at the Alcove Gallery.
Holt Festival at Alcove Gallery, Picturecraft, 23 Lees Yard, Holt, NR25 6HS
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Saturday 20 July 10am-4pm FREE
CHILDREN’S SATURDAY (childrens)
Free activities for kids and young people (up to 16) including football skills, street dance, song writing, art, poetry, story writing and more, ending with a sing-along screening of Mary Poppins Returns at 6.30pm in the Community Centre.
Gresham’s Pre-Prep Field, NR25 6BB
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Saturday 20 – Sunday 27 July 11am-5pm FREE
SIR JOHN HURT ART PRIZE (art)
The winner and all the shortlisted entries from this prestigious art prize that carries a cash prize of £1,750.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre Foyer, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 20 – Sunday 27 July 11am-5pm FREE
SWORDERS ART PRIZE (art)
The winner and all the shortlisted entries from this new art prize for young artists from 16 to 23. With a prize of £750 this is sure to attract a strong field of entries.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre Foyer, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 20 – Sunday 27 July 11am-5pm FREE
FESTIVAL LOAN EXHIBITION: DAME LUCIE RIE AND HANS COPER (art)
Vessels and pots by two artists regarded as the preeminent British potters of the latter half of the twentieth century (although neither was born in Britain). They forged a new direction in ceramics and their work still looks as modern today as it did when it was made.
Holt Festival at The Meeting Room, St Andrew’s Church, Church Street, Holt NR25 6BB
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Saturday 20 – Sunday 27 July 11am-5pm FREE
FESTIVAL LOAN EXHIBITION: TWO LIVES IN COLOUR (art)
Paintings and sculpture by a husband and wife team, both inspirational art teachers. Dubery (1926-2011) was a painter’s painter admired for his exuberant colour and quiet domestic interiors. Brogden (1929-2013) was a Professor of Fashion at the Royal College of Art who retired in 1999 to concentrate on her figurative sculptures.
Holt Festival at The Garden House Studio, Station Road, Holt NR25 6BS
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Saturday 20 July 11am £5
ART TALK: TWO LIVES IN COLOUR by IAN COLLINS (art)
The author of Two Lives in Colour: Fred Dubery and Joanna Brogden talks about the artists, their lives and work. He will also be signing copies of his book. Booking essential.
Holt Festival at The Garden House Studio, Station Road, Holt NR25 6BS
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Saturday 20 July – Sunday 27 July 11am-5pm FREE
HOLT ART TRAIL (art)
Follow the trail and see great art, contemporary and historic, at galleries throughout the town.
Holt Festival at various venues
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Saturday 20 July 11am-5pm FREE
ART CAR BOOT (art)
Selected contemporary artists and craftsmen will be selling their work from the boots of their cars.
Holt Festival at LEES Yard and beyond, Holt NR25 6SH
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Sunday 21 July 12noon onwards FREE
STREET PARTY AND TOWN PICNIC (family entertainment)
A fun-packed family day with live music, circus acts, close up magic, street food stalls, a local produce market and more. From midday around town, from 3pm bring your picnic to Gresham’s Pre-Prep field where the fun continues.
Holt Festival around the Town Centre
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Sunday 21 July 7.30pm £25/£5
THE SMALLEST GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (circus)
Cabaret style circus show from Lost in Translation Circus, with compere Abigail Collins. Contains adult content.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Monday 22 – Saturday 27 July 10-10.30am FREE
CHILDREN’S STORYTELLING WITH AMY FINEGAN (childrens)
Stories, games and songs for under 7s..
Holt Festival at The Holt Book Shop, 10 Appleyard Holt NR25 6AR
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Monday 22 July 2.30pm £18/£5
SIR MARTYN LEWIS: A CONSTRUCTIVE FUTURE FOR JOURNALISM (talk)
The former BBC and ITN newscaster talks about how journalism is addressing the need to report positive as well as negative news stories.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Monday 22 July 6pm £16/£5
THE LEWIS SISTERS INTRODUCED BY SIR MARTYN LEWIS (music)
Beautiful harmony vocals and songs about good times, bar rooms and broken hearts. Original songs and classics by Bob Dylan, Hank Williams and others.
Holt Festival at Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN
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Monday 22 July 8.15pm £22/£5
FLO & JOAN: ALIVE ON STAGE (musical comedy)
Musical comedy sisters Flo & Joan present a brand new show of dark witty songs.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Tuesday 23 July 11am £5
ART TALK: LUCIE RIE AND HANS COPER BY AMANDA GEITNER (talk/literature)
The Director of the East Anglia Art Fund and former Chief Curator of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts talks to James Glennie about these innovative and influential potters.
Holt Festival at The Meeting Room, St Andrew’s Church, Church Street, Holt NR25 6BB
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Tuesday 23 July 2.30pm £18/£5
KATE MOSSE IN CONVERSATION WITH KATE ROMA (talk/literature)
The international best-selling author talks to Kate Roma (former Future Radio presenter) about her life and work, including Labyrinth and The Burning Chamber, the first in a new sequence of historical novels.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Tuesday 23 July 4pm £5
THAT GOOD NIGHT (12A, 20170 (film)
Sir John Hurt gives a tour de force performance in what was to be his final film. Ralph, a once famous writer in his seventies is terminally ill and has things to do before he dies.
Holt Festival at Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN
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Tuesday 23 July 6pm £24/£5
ELSAFTY, O’CONNOR & BROWNE (music/folk)
Singer Roisin Elsafty, accordionist Martin O’Connor and Uileann Pipes player Ronan Browne are amongst Ireland’s best traditional musicians. From scintillating songs to heart-breaking laments, these evocative and lyrical songs will transport listeners to the far west of Ireland.
Holt Festival at St Andrew’s Church, Church Street, Holt NR25 6BB
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Tuesday 23 July 8.30pm £15/£5
LUKE WRIGHT, POET LAUREATE plus MOLLY NAYLOR (poetry)
With a new Poet Laureate to be announced this year Luke Wright is chucking his hat in the ring and embarking on a mission to write poems to unite a nation divided by austerity and Brexit.
Holt Festival at Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN
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WEDNESDAY 24 July 12.30pm £15/£11
ELSAFTY, O’CONNOR & BROWNE CEILIDH(music/folk)
Get those feet moving to the best of traditional Irish music with a steaming hot lunch of Irish stew included in the price.
Holt Festival at Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN
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WEDNESDAY 24 July 3pm £18/£5
SIR TIM WATERSTONE IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS GRIBBLE (talk/literature)
The founder of Waterstones talks to the CEO of the National Centre for Writing about his successful career.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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WEDNESDAY 24 July 6pm £25/£5
CANTABILE – THE LONDON QUARTET (music)
One of Britain’s greatest vocal groups sing songs from across the musical spectrum from Rossini to Rodgers & Hart, Billy Joel to the Beatles.
Holt Festival at St Andrew’s Church, Church Street, Holt NR25 6BB
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WEDNESDAY 24 July 8pm £15/£5
LIGHTS! PLANETS! PEOPLE! and SICK (theatre)
Drama double bill from two talented Norfolk-based writers. Lights! Planets! People! is an intimate and exhilarating play about space science, mental health and communication. Sick is a very funny entertaining and bittersweet story about the impact of austerity on the National Health Service.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Thursday 25 July from 9.30am FREE
CIRCUS IN A DAY WITH LOST IN TRANSLATION (childrens)
Learn juggling, hula hoop and acrobalance then get into costume for a finale performance for family and friends.
Pre booking required.
Holt Festival at Gresham’s Pre-Prep School, Market Place, Holt NR25 6BB
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Thursday 25 July 2.30pm £20/£5
TERRY WAITE CBE (talk)
Terry Waite talks about his latest book Travels with a Primate, a record of the journeys he made across the world Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Thursday 25 July 4.30pm £8/£5
AND IS IT A GAINSBOROUGH? (talk)
Hugh Belsey MBE is one of the foremost authorities on 18th century art, particularly Gainsborough. This talk reveals fascinating mysteries of the art world and social history of the period.
Holt Festival at the Britten Building, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Thursday 25 July 8pm £22/£5
BRITTEN OBOE QUARTET (music, classical)
Oboist Nicholas Daniel, together with his colleagues from the award-winning Britten Sinfonia play classics including Mozart’s Oboe Quartet and lesser known works.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Thursday 25 July 8pm £16/£5
STAND UP COMEDY (comedy)
Jon Pearson MC introduces Carly Smallman, Kelsey De Almeida and Alistair Barrie for an evening of raucous and entertaining comedy.
Holt Festival at the Feathers Hotel, 6 Market Place, Holt, NR25 6BW
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Friday 26 July 10.30am FREE, ages 3-10
((( ON PA ))) WORKSHOP & PERFORMANCE (childrens)
((( On Pa ))) means soundwave in Japanese. Workshop participants will make music with all sorts of instruments and found objects led by musicians ICHI and Rachael Dadd, followed by a performance.
Pre booking required.
Holt Festival at Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN
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Friday 26-Sunday 28 July 11am-5pm FREE
OPEN STUDIOS (art)
Visit artists’ studios in and around Holt and enjoy seeing a wide variety of art and meeting the artists.
Various locations – maps available on Holt Festival website from 1 July.
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Friday 26 July 2.30pm £18/£5
RICHARD MABEY (talk)
One of the foremost writers on the healing power of nature and author of award-winning books including Flora Britannica, talks to environmental journalist Richard Girling about his life and work.
Holt Festival at Theatre in the Woods, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Friday 26 July 4pm £8
THE TEMPEST (15, 1979) (film)
Derek Jarman’s magical film version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest is introduced by Don Boyd, Derek Jarman’s Producer. Toyah Willcox (who appears in the film and is one of this year’s headline performers), will make a guest appearance.
Holt Festival at the Britten Building, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Friday 26 July 4-5pm FREE
CLAP, TAP + STOMP WITH OLD KENT ROAD (childrens)
Have a go at body percussion on the stage of the Auden Theatre with Avalon Rathgeb of Old Kent Road and choreographer of OSCiLLATE.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Friday 26 July 6pm £22/£5
OSCiLLATE (music/gig)
Groundbreaking tap dance experience exploring human interaction and the effect of miscommunication in relationships, with original electronic music.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Friday 26 July 8.15pm £35/£5
TOYAH (music/gig)
The punk princess and her full band play a 40th anniversary retrospective including everyone’s favourite hit singles and album classics.
Holt Festival at Theatre in the Woods, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 27 July 12noon £8
CHARIOTS OF FIRE (PG, 1981) (film)
Internationally acclaimed Oscar-winning drama based on the true story of runners Eric Liddell and Harold Abraham’s journey to the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Holt Festival at the Britten Building, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 27 July 2.30pm £18/£5
NIGEL HAVERS (talk)
The actor and national treasure talks about his life and work with Anwen Hurt.
Holt Festival at Theatre in the Woods, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 27 July 4pm £8
CROMER SOUL CLUB (music)
DJs Hitman & Halfnelson spin the finest northern soul sounds of the sixties to get your feet moving.
Holt Festival at the Auden Theatre, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Saturday 27 July 7pm £38/£5
GEORGIE FAME plus KAIROS 4TET (music/gig)
The Rn’B /jazz legend musician plays some of his greatest hits and music by artists that have influenced him, interspersed with personal anecdotes from his incredible career. Support from MOBO Award winners with their infectious blend of classic and contemporary jazz.
Holt Festival at Theatre in the Woods, Cromer Road, Holt NR25 6EA
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Box office: 01603 598699 or online at www.holtfestival.org
Facebook @holtfestival
Twitter @holtfest
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